Flavor releasing structures for chewing gum

Abstract

Flavor releasing structures for chewing gum are provided. The structures consist of a core having a flavor reservoir material and a binding material. The cores may be coated with a flavor barrier coating.

We claim: 
     
       1. A chewing gum having a flavor releasing composition which comprises: a gum base;   a water soluble bulk portion; and,   a flavor releasing composition which comprises a cellulosic material, a silica and a flavoring agent; wherein the silica is dispersed throughout and bound by the cellulosic material and the flavoring agent is releasably retained by the silica.   
     
     
       2. The chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the cellulosic material comprises hydroxypropylcellulose. 
     
     
       3. The chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the flavor releasing composition further comprises a flavor barrier coating encompassing the cellulosic, silica and flavoring agent. 
     
     
       4. The chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the flavoring agent comprises at least 25 percent by weight of the total weight of the flavor releasing composition. 
     
     
       5. The chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the flavoring agent comprises at least 33 percent by weight of the total weight of the flavor releasing composition. 
     
     
       6. A chewing gum having a flavor releasing extrudate which comprises: a gum base;   a water soluble bulk portion; and,   a flavor releasing extrudate having a particle size capable of passing through about a 40 mesh screen, said extrude comprising a cellulosic material and a flavor reservoir material including a flavoring agent releasably retained thereby; wherein the flavor reservoir material is dispersed throughout and bound by the cellulosic material.   
     
     
       7. The chewing gum of claim 6 wherein the flavor reservoir material comprises a silica. 
     
     
       8. The chewing gum of claim 6 wherein the cellulosic material comprises hydroxypropylcellulose. 
     
     
       9. The chewing gum of claim 6 wherein the flavor releasing extrudate is coated with a flavor barrier coating. 
     
     
       10. The chewing gum of claim 6 wherein the flavoring agent comprises at least 25 percent by weight of the total weight of the flavor releasing extrudate. 
     
     
       11. The chewing gum of claim 6 wherein the flavoring agent comprises at least 33 percent by weight of the total weight of the flavoring agent. 
     
     
       12. A chewing gum having a flavor releasing structure which comprises: a gum base;   a water soluble bulk portion; and,   a flavor releasing structure in the shape of a small particle, said structure comprising:   a thermoplastic material;   a non-thermoplastic material dispersed throughout and bound by said thermoplastic material;   a flavoring agent comprising at least 25 percent by weight of the total weight of the flavor releasing structure, and being releasably retained by said non-thermoplastic; and,   a flavor barrier coating encompassing said thermoplastic, non-thermoplastic and flavoring agent.   
     
     
       13. The chewing gum of claim 12 wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a cellulosic material. 
     
     
       14. The chewing gum of claim 12 wherein the thermoplastic material comprises hydroxypropylcellulose. 
     
     
       15. The chewing gum of claim 12 wherein the non-thermoplastic material comprises a silica.